“That sounds very pretty, but the meaning of it is beyond me,” said Augusta.
“You would understand if you tried to; you are not at all stupid, you know.”
“Thanks, dear, for the compliment.”
“And I wanted to tell you I am going to keep straight; and as you are to be here for a year”——
“Ah! I thought the shoe pinched in that direction,” said Augusta, with a laugh.
“It does, Gussie—it does. I am ever so sorry! I could have loved you, of course; but I have always been just afraid of you.”
“And you will go on being afraid of me, honey, won’t you?”
“That is what I do not want to be. I want you never, never again to tempt me to be naughty. Do not tempt me any more, Augusta; that is what I want to ask.”
“You are a nice girl! I tempt you! What next?”
“Oh! you know you did. You know but for you I would have told all about Pip. You know but for you—— Oh Augusta! how can you pretend? You know; you must know.”